Is Coconut Oil Good For Dogs Health And Fitness?

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs

Coconut oil has a multitude of health benefits. It has a great percentage of saturated fats and a few traces of unsaturated fatty acids. Most of these saturated acids are Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). The main component of these MCTs is lauric acid which has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

MCTs have in the past been referred to as coconut oils’ secret weapon since they are the source of most of the coconut oil benefits. These benefits apply to humans and man’s best friend as well.

There are many benefits of coconut oil for dogs. There are two types of coconut oil- refined and unrefined. The refined is normally labeled RBD, deodorized and bleached while the unrefined is labeled virgin coconut oil.

The refined oil is made from low quality coconuts and coconut meat, and chemicals such as hexane and chlorine are sometimes used in the refining process.

You should always choose the unrefined coconut oil as a dietary supplement for your dog

This is because the unrefined is made up of high quality fresh coconuts and it retains most nutrients found in fresh coconut. Below are the benefits of coconut oil for dogs health.

1. Healthy Skin and Coat

Coconut oil improves the overall skin health. It is highly effective in reducing protein loss, which leads to a number of unhealthy and unattractive qualities in hair. It also clears skin conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis, itchy skin, and flea allergies.

Coconut oil also treats fungal and yeast infections in dogs. It helps create glossy and sleek coats in dogs when added to dog’s diet or shampoo. Coconut oil also moisturizes even the driest skin. Therefore you can apply to improve the feel, look and smell of your dog’s coat.

When applied to infected areas it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from fungi, bacteria, dust and air, therefore it promotes healing of cuts, bites, stings. It is also effective on bruises since it speeds up the healing process of damaged tissues apart from disinfecting the cuts.

2. Improves Your Dog’s Digestion And Nutrient Absorption

If your dog has a sensitive tummy, coconut oil will improve your dog’s digestion system. It also improves nutrients absorption and helps in healing digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel syndrome, relieves stomach ulcers, and colitis. To achieve this, add a teaspoon to the dog’s diet.

3. Weight Loss And Energy Boost

These days obesity in dogs is very common and it one of the fastest growing health problems for dogs. Obese dogs are at a high risk of some weight-related disorders. The extra weight can compromise a dog’s health while making movement difficult and increasing joint pain.

Coconut oil promotes dog’s metabolism while increases energy and promoting healthy joints. For many dogs suffering from arthritis, coconut oil will be ideal in relieving the joint pain and improve overall bone health.

4. Improves Dog’s Breath

If brushing your dog’s teeth is not your favorite task, then you can use coconut oil to combat the canine bad breath as coconut oil it is one of the pantry items you should never be without. It is ideal for brushing your dog’s teeth because it improves the dog’s health and the overall brushing experience since dogs love the taste of coconut oil.

To use coconut oil in improving your dog’s breath, put a teaspoon of coconut oil over your dog’s food every day and you will sniff a better breath from your dog. You can also brush their teeth using coconut oil.

5. Reduces The Risk Of Some Cancers

Curing cancer can be a tough and delicate process that is accompanied with a lot of medication. Dogs, especially those above the age of 10, are at a risk of suffering from different types of cancer such as skin cancer, mammary gland tumor, and breast cancer.

The lauric acid in coconut oil has been shown to prevent the risk of cancer and other degenerative diseases that could affect your dog.

6. Dog's Hormonal Balance

Coconut oil is amazing for hormonal balance. It provides the dog with the necessary building blocks required for hormone production. It therefore prevents diabetes by regulating and balancing the dog’s insulin. This also promotes normal thyroid function.

7. Your Dog's Brain Health

Just like cinnamon, coconut oil is excellent for brain health. Ketones are produced when the body converts fat into energy. A primary source of ketones is MCTs which are found in coconut oil. Evidence shows that ketones help in restoring and renewing neurons. They also help in nerve function in the dog’s brain even after damage has set in.

Due to the MCT-ketone metabolism, the MCT's are treated by the body as carbohydrates and not fat, this allows the ketone energy to flow in the blood stream without creating an insulin spark. Therefore coconut oil as a fat acts as carbohydrate and helps in your dog’s brain fuel.

8. Improves The Dog’s Immune System

Coconut oil strengthens the dog’s immune system since it contains lauric acid, capric acid, antimicrobial lipids, and caprlrical acid, which possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The lauric acid is converted to monolaurin which is effective in fighting bacteria and viruses thus improving your dog’s immunity.

Conclusion

Having seen the many benefits of coconut oil for your dog, you might be wondering how much coconut oil you should feed your dog. When starting to give coconut oil to your dog, it absolutely important that you start slow.

It absolutely important that you start slow

It is recommended that you start with a quarter teaspoon to puppies and small dogs daily and a teaspoon to large dogs. After letting the dog’s body to adjust, give a teaspoon of coconut oil per ten pounds of the dog’s weight.

Apart from giving coconut oil orally to the dog, apply it directly to the dog’s skin and coat and let it absorb for about five minutes. After five minutes, you can apply a light rinse. In case you happen to feel that you haven’t removed the excess oil, use shampoo for a final rinse. By doing this once a week, you will notice a great difference in the health of your dog’s skin and nails.

There are also a number of fantastic healthy products for your dog that contain coconut oil. You can find some of them on our review pages of the best coconut oil.

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